Citrate anticoagulation and cell washing for intraoperative autotransfusion in the baboon.

Extracorporeal citrate was used for anticoagulation during autotransfusion of baboons. A cell-washing plasmaphoresis procedure was added in one group of animals in order to remove activated clotting materials. Both groups became hypocoagulable, but the cell-washed group had less evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation as well as lower plasma hemoglobin levels. Citrate anticoagulation plus cell washing is a potential alternative to heparinization for autotransfusion.